Prankster to have the last laugh

The unexposed Prankster makes plenty of appeal in the opener at Market Rasen today (1.25) and at 6/1 rates the best bet on the card.

Peter Bowen’s charge showed nothing in his first two runs over hurdles, but then went into my notebook as a sure fire future winner when a promising fourth of 11 to Laflammedeglorie at Chepstow on soft ground.

He kept on well that day under tender handling after being outpaced when the pace quickened three out and looked as if better ground would bring about further improvement when switched to handicaps.

The six-year-old was then not given a hard time on his handicap debut when finishing seventh of 15 to Handy Andy over 2m 5f and seemed to find 3m 1f beyond him at Newbury next time up.

He was then going really well when badly hampered by a faller and put out of the race on his lastest starts at southwell when well-backed and I am convinced that he is better than his current mark of 96 – especially as he had some really decent form on the level in France back in 2009 when trained by Andre Fabre.

His best run came when he finished runner-up in a listed event won by Manighar, who is now rated 111 and won a Group 3 and a Group 1 in Australia last season.

The gelding was beaten just 3/4 of a length that day on ground officially described as good, and that augurs well for the better ground that he encounters today.

Although he has obviously shown nowhere near that level of form over the obstacles he has only had six runs and I am sure that we are yet to see the best in him.